Prof. Naylor taught introductory courses, such as African American Religious Traditions and American Religious Movements, that highlight religion’s role in shaping group identity and in advancing a variety of social concerns. The interplay of spirituality and religion on the American scene was a key theme in most of his courses. He taught advanced courses exploring the religious thought of major figures such as Howard Thurman, Martin Luther King, Jr., Dorothy Day, and Thomas Merton. His research interests include reassessment of the social gospel movement, and environmental ethics and the “greening” of American religion.